Pack Up The Cooler And Hit The Lake: It’s Jobbie Nooner Day!

GULL ISLAND (WWJ) – Break out the bikinis and crack open a beer — Friday is Jobbie Nooner!

Thousands of boats and more than 50,000 people are expected to descend on Gull Island in Lake St. Clair for one of the biggest parties of the summer.

(Aerial photo: Lance Howard)

So, what exactly is Jobbie Nooner?

The event — which takes place the final Friday in June — was started in the 70’s by some of Detroit’s auto industry employees looking for a summer getaway. The workers would typically go out on the Friday following the summer solstice, and the island served as a perfect venue.

Lee Odell of Ferndale was part of the 17 guys who started Jobbie Nooner back in 1974 and on Friday spoke with WWJ about the first ever event.

“Four boats and 17 guys that decided to leave at 11 a.m. and go out to party on the lake,” Odell said. “A lot of guys started bringing their wives and their girlfriends to lunch every day, and they said if you aren’t doing anything then come on out.”

It has grown in popularity ever since and the line of boats just continues to get longer and longer.

If you’re heading to Jobbie Nooner, don’t forget to bring a towel because rain is in the forecast all day long. But the showers and possible thunderstorms are scattered, so they might miss the island. See the complete weather forecast.